Bar straightener

ABSTRACT

A tool for straightening bars, particularly those of triangular cross section, including a positive clamping mechanism and a pressing tool movable in all directions transverse of the bar so that the bar may be pressed in any lateral direction for straightening.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,881,341

Evans May 6, 1975 [5 BAR STRAIGHTENER 1,555,972 10/1925 Hervig 72/3892,196,297 4/1940 G 81 177 UJ [76] Invent: Evans Pemnah, 3,257,832 6/1966H2531; 72/305 Yanktom 5778 3,518,868 7/1970 Cargill 72/389 9 3,545,24712/1970 Fazzani 72/310 [22] 1973 3,731,513 5 1973 Kindermann 72 295 [21]Appl. No.: 330,267

Primary ExaminerC. W. Lanham 52 US. Cl. 72/297; 72/389; 72/459 AssistantKeenan [51] Int. Cl B2111 3/00 [58] Field of Search 72/389, 480, 458,459, 57 S R 72/479, 305, 295, 296, 297, 316, 319, 387; 81/177 U] A toolfor straightening bars, part1cularly those of mangular cross section,including a positive clamping [56] References Cited mechanism and apressing tool movable in all directions transverse of the bar so thatthe bar may be UNITED STATES PATENTS pressed in any lateral directionfor straightening. 125,055 3/1872 Kinzel 72/389 317,585 5/1885 Sharp72/305 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BAR STRAIGHTENER BACKGROUND ANDSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to tools forstraightening bars, tubes or the like and more particularly to a tooladapted at one setting to straighten any singular bend, regardless ofthe direction of that bend, in a rod of triangular cross section.

The cross bar currently used in the various sporting field events suchas the high jump and pole vault is of triangular cross section. Thesebars are frequently bent in use and sometimes in storage. Sometimes thebends are small so as not to appear significant. Yet it is important foraccurate comparison of the height of jump that the bar be as straight aspossible.

Devices for straightening round bars are not appropriate for thepurpose. Round bars can be readily turned so that pressure can beapplied in a single direction and the bar turned under the press so thatthe force is applied is the proper direction to return the bar to itsoriginal condition. While the square bar can be pressed in only twodirections by a similar tool, the net result is substantially similarbecause a bar which is straight in those two directions is straight inall directions. However, a triangular bar presents special difficultieswhich only a multi-directional pressure can solve.

By my invention l provide a tool in which a triangular bar can beclamped and pressure applied in multiple directions to straighten thebar from any direction in which it has been bent.

FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top view of my tool with the pressure saddle in arest position,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool with a bar in a clampedposition,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view from line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view from line 44 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the saddle in place on the bar.

DESCRIPTION Briefly my invention comprises a tool adapted to stand byitself and in which a bar can be clamped to be straightened. Thestraightening is accomplished by applying pressure in any directionhaving a downward component.

More specifically and referring to the drawings, my device isconstructed with a base which may be a square or rectangular tube.Brackets 11 may be provided at each end of the base to receive legs 12to support the base.

In order to hold the bar 13 to be straightened, there are two differentsupports provided. The first support is also the clamping device to holdthe bar in the device. These supports are provided on both sides of thestraightening section and include uprights 14 welded to the base 10. AV-shaped support 15 (FIG. 4) adapted to fit the usual triangular barwith a flat side up is provided between each pair of uprights.

Clamping means to clamp the bar 13 in the supports is also provided.This means consists principally of a plate 16 pivoted between theuprights 14 and adapted to engage the upper surface of the bar 13. Theplate may be provided with an adjustable extension 17 slidable relativeto the plate to allow for variance in the size of the bars 13. It mayalso be desirable to adjust the plates so that they will just pressfirmly on the top of the bar as the plate is fully depressed to a deadcenter" position so that the bar is held without requiring constantpressure on the operating members.

Each plate 16 is mounted on an axle 18 extending into the upright 14 onone side and through the upright 14 on the others. On the side where theaxle 18 extends, a crank arm 19 is fixed to the axle. This arm providesthe means by which the plates 16 are pressed into contact with the bar13. Preferably the arms 19 are inter-connected by a link 20 so that theywill operate simultaneously when one is moved by means of a lever 21. Itwill readily be apparent that an adjustment of a turnbuckle type maywell be provided in the link 20 if it is desirable or necessary toadjust the phasing between the two clamping means. Ordinarily, theadjustment of the sliding extensions 17 is adequate, but provision canbe made for the other adjustment if needed.

The second support means is merely an extended support 23 which may beprovided by a bar type support having a V-shapedend 24. The bar ispreferably pivoted to the base so that it can be moved from a nonuseposition shown in FIG. 3 to the use position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The straightening mechanism is also supported by uprights 26 mounted onthe base 10. The mechanism is pivoted on a horizontal transverse axis sothat vertical pressure can be applied. This axis is defined by an axle27. The first link 28 of the mechanism may preferably be U-shaped toprovide a pair of ears between which the operating link 29 can bepivoted on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axle 27. Theoperating link 29 is provided with a hollow boss 30 into which 31 (FIG.2) can be inserted to provide the necessary leverage to straighten thebar. A saddle member 32 is pivoted to the operating link 29 and isadapted to engage the top surface of the bar 13 and to extend adjacentits sides (FIG. 5). Thus, vertical pressure will be transmitted to thebar to provide a straightening force in that direction, and transversehorizontal forces may also be transmitted to the bar for straighteningin those directions.

In order to support the operating mechanism when not in use, I provide asupport bar 34 fixed to one of the uprights 26. The bar is offset to oneside so that the operating mechanism will not interfere with placementor replacement of the bar 13.

Means is also provided to determine whether the bar is straight or hasbecome straight. This means includes measuring devices measuringdisplacement in two dimensions vertical and lateral. The devices aretotally mechanical and consist of contact members attached to pointerswhich are displaced by movement of the contact members. Specifically,the vertical sensor consists of a contact member 36 adapted to engagethe lower edge of the bar 13. This member extends to an offset pivotaxis 37. At the axis, a pointer 38 is affixed to the member. The pointeris preferably quite long so that any deviation may be magnified. Also,the tip of the pointers extend to some sort of index, whether simplyanother tip 39 or a scale of some type.

The lateral sensor is similar consisting of the contact member 41 towhich is attached the pointer 42 meeting the opposing index tip 43.Springs 44 may be provided for both indicators to hold the contactmembers 36 and 41 in contact with the rod 13.

The operation of the device should be apparent from the description. Therod 13 is first placed in the device so that any displacement orcrookedness is in the section between the clamping members. Crookednessmay be determined by the displacement of either or both of the pointers38 and 42 when the rod is firmly located in the V-shaped members 15. Theclamping means are then set by operating the handle 21 to clamp the rodin place. The saddle 32 is then placed on the rod and pressure isapplied in the direction to straighten whatever crookedness there maybe. Such pressure is applied until the rod is straightened, and then therod can be moved to check additional bends. It will be obvious that therod 13 may have to be turned about its principal axis so the pressureneed be applied only in a downward or a horizontal lateral direction,rather than an upward direction, to produce the straightening.

If desired, a steadying handle 45 (FIG. 1) may be provided. This handleis fixed to the base and is used only to steady the device on its legsif necessary to counteract force on the rod applied by the lateralstraightening force.

I claim:

1. A bar straightening device comprising a longitudinal extending base,support means mounted on said base near end thereof, clamping memberspivotally mounted on each of said support means, said clamping memberbeing spaced from said support means whereby a bar can be clampedtherebetween, operating means movably mounted on said base between saidclamping members, and adapted to engage said bar, said movable mountingbeing such as to allow move ment of at least part of said operatingmeans in two directions perpendicular to each other and transversely ofsaid bar, means on said operating means adapted to engage at least threesides of said bar whereby the operating means is adapted to apply forceagainst said bar in two directions to apply straightening force in thosetwo directions.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said clamping member is adjustable sothat the space between it and the support means may be varied.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the clamping members in both clampsare linked together to operate simultaneously.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said operating means includes apivoted member pivotally mounted on an axis transverse of said frame andabove the location of said bar. an operating link pivotally connected tosaid pivoted member on an axis perpendicular to said transverse axis andmeans on said operating link to engage both the top and the side of saidbar whereby pressure can be applied both downward and laterally of saidbar.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said means on said operating linkincludes a saddle member pivotally mounted on said link and having sidemembers embracing the sides of said bar.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said clamping means includes supportmeans and a pivoted clamping member, said clamping member being spacedfrom said support means so that the bar can be clamped between theclamping member and the support means.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said support means are V-shaped withthe apex pointing downward so that a triangular bar can be clamped insaid clamping means.

8. The device of claim 4 in which outer support means are pivotallymounted on said base and are movable to a position to support said barat a point beyond said clamping means from the center of the base.

9. The device of claim 4 in which indicator means are pivotally mountedon the base in position to contact the bar to indicate the presence ofcrookedness in the bar.

l =l =l

1. A bar straightening device comprising a longitudinal extending base,support means mounted on said base near end thereof, clamping memberspivotally mounted on each of said support means, said clamping memberbeing spaced from said support means whereby a bar can be clampedtherebetween, operating means movably mounted on said base between saidclamping members, and adapted to engage said bar, said movable mountingbeing such as to allow movement of at least part of said operating meansin two directions perpendicular to each other and transversely of saidbar, means on said operating means adapted to engage at least threesides of said bar whereby the operating means is adapted to apply forceagainst said bar in two directions to apply straightening force is thosetwo directions.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said clamping memberis adjustable so that the space between it and the support means may bevaried.
 3. The device of claim 1 in which the clamping members in bothclamps are linked together to operate simultaneously.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 in which said operating means includes a pivoted memberpivotally mounted on an axis transverse of said frame and above thelocation of said bar, an operating link pivotally connected to saidpivoted member on an axis perpendicular to said transverse axis andmeans on said operating link to engage both the top and the side of saidbar whereby pressure can be applied both downward and laterally of saidbar.
 5. The device of claim 4 in which said means on said operating linkincludes a saddle member pivotally mounted on said link and having sidemembers embracing the sides of said bar.
 6. The device of claim 5 inwhich said clamping means includes support means and a pivoted clampingmember, said clamping member being spaced from said support means sothat the bar can be clamped between the clamping member and the supportmeans.
 7. The device of claim 6 in which said support means are V-shapedwith the apex pointing downward so that a triangular bar can be clampedin said clamping means.
 8. The device of claim 4 in which outer supportmeans are pivotally mounted on said base and are movable to a positionto support said bar at a point beyond said clamping means from thecenter of the base.
 9. The device of claim 4 in which indicator meansare pivotally mounted on the base in position to contact the bar toindicate the presence of crookedness in the bar.